Dooming Destiny

NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF: EAGLES 20, PACKERS 17 (OT)

Eagles, Mcnabb Sidestep Packers, Favre

January 12, 2004|By Damon Hack, New York Times

PHILADELPHIA -- Brett Favre kept looking over his left shoulder as he walked to the sideline Sunday night, staring at the spot where his errant pass fluttered into the hands of Philadelphia Eagles safety Brian Dawkins.

It was a bad throw, even for a gambler such as Favre, and he could not take it back.

Dawkins had skipped down the field, returning the interception 35 yards to set up David Akers for a 31-yard field goal that elevated Philadelphia to a 20-17 overtime victory against the Green Bay Packers at Lincoln Financial Field.

The Eagle will host the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship Game at 6:45 Sunday night.

For Favre, the Green Bay Packers quarterback who had become a sentimental favorite after his father, Irvin, died Dec. 21, the loss ended a run of inspired football for the Packers, who had been considered a team of destiny.

Favre often has said that players such as Packers running back Ahman Green and receiver Robert Ferguson have kept him young, kept him returning season after season, Sunday after Sunday.

Favre finished with 15 completions in 28 attempts for 180 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

It was Favre's counterpart, Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb, who found fairy dust on a cold night, rescuing the Eagles from a 14-0 deficit to send them to their third consecutive appearance in the NFC title game.

McNabb finished 21-of-39 for 248 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 107 yards, breaking the single-game postseason rushing record for a quarterback set by Otto Graham on Dec. 24, 1950.

With the Eagles trailing 17-14 in the final two minutes of regulation, McNabb led the Eagles on a march in the face of unyielding pressure from Green Bay's defensive line.

On fourth-and-26 from the Eagles' 26, McNabb connected on a 28-yard pass over the middle to receiver Freddie Mitchell with just over a minute to play, a catch that saved the Eagles from elimination.

McNabb slowly moved the Eagles deeper into Green Bay territory with a 3-yard run and a 10-yard pass to Todd Pinkston to the Packers' 19.

With five seconds left in regulation, Akers, who had missed a 33-yard attempt earlier, converted a 37-yard field goal to send the game into overtime.

The Packers had several chances to silence the Eagles in regulation but failed to cash in on huge games from Green and Ferguson. In the second quarter, the Packers drove to the Eagles' 1 and settled for nothing when Green was stopped in front of the end zone.

The Packers allowed McNabb, who had an inconsistent first half, to improvise late in the game, changing tactics and using his legs to make plays and cut into Green Bay's lead.

If the Eagles' receivers were covered, McNabb squeezed the football and ran, gaining yards at double-digit clips.

His best footwork ended in a pass, though, when he avoided two Green Bay defensive linemen, squirted out to the right side and fired a 12-yard touchdown pass to Pinkston in the corner of the end zone, tying the score at 14 early in the fourth quarter.

The Packers' defense created the first turnover when cornerback Mike McKenzie chased down McNabb, who was sprinting to his left. McKenzie grabbed McNabb's legs, and the quarterback stumbled, losing his balance and dropping the football. Packers linebacker Nick Barnett recovered it at the Eagles' 40.

Favre, sensing the moment, pounced.

On first-and-10, he dropped back to pass as Ferguson ran a deep post against cornerback Sheldon Brown. Favre threw a dart over Brown's head to Ferguson for a 40-yard touchdown that staked Green Bay to a 7-0 lead.